Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Create a Cement Tile Floor Plan with Large Patterns & No Border

You've found the cement tile pattern you love. The next step? Layout the pattern in the room. You'll then know how many tiles to order. Also, the tile layer will know exactly how you want the floor to look. A tile floor plan is always recommended and shows the pattern layout in a room. To create a tile floor plan you should follow these steps to achieve the best results. Make sure to use a scaled drawing and include an allowance for the grout joints (usually 1/16").

Cuban Heritage Installation with CH110-2B

In this example, we chose the stunning Cuban Heritage Design 110-1C cement tile. This tile comes in an 8"x8" format and we won't be using the double border since we are flooring a small bedroom. We want to see the pattern throughout the room; but, to avoid chopping up the design we've picked a complimentary solid color tile, Heritage Indigo, that will be used around the room's edge.

Cuban Heritage Design CH110-1C

Heritage Indigo

Here's the steps you need to follow to create a cement tile floor plan for a room. This plan doesn't use a border and is based on using a pattern that requires eight (8) tiles to make the design (CH110-1C).

Find the center of the room. Do this either with a chalk line for smaller rooms or more precisely by measuring each side of a rectangular room. When finding the center or a room, ignore closets, niches or alcoves connected to the main part of the room.

Place the center of the pattern in the center of the room. Notice the cement tile we chose requires eight (8) tiles to complete the pattern (four cross and four medallion); so, sixteen (16) tiles are placed in the room's center.

Continue the pattern in all directions until their isn't enough room to complete the pattern without cutting a tile.

Fill the remaining, irregular space around the edge of the patterned field tile with a complimentary solid color cement tile or stone. Connecting closets or small rooms should use the same flooring material as the edges.

Voilà! The cement tile layout or plan is complete.

Wasn't that easy? I admit, it does take some time and patience; but, you'll be glad you did. Time spent planning finalizes the design and ensures you have ordered the right quantity of tiles and they'll be installed exactly how you want them.